Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-09-30
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

The PoULTRY YARD IN AUTUMN
Mistake Is made sometimes by poultry
faueiers, and those in the business as
well, in placing too many eggs under
hen for her brooding. No larger num-
Der than nine can be set with perfect
safety. in the autumn; and, therefore,
II it be desirable to bring out many
chickens, the art Of managing two or
more sitting hens at once should be ac-
auired. In such case the fancier or
breeder can put two broOds together,
and. being careful about the night
shelter, there need be no difficulty in
accommodating so many broods as shall
number twenty to fifty chickens to the
attention of single hen, particularly
il the weather Of the season be reasona.
bly, mild and settled.
Late chicks should BE cared for by
their mother until few weeks old,
when they can be placed together in
well-sized box, the open sides of which
are covered by coarse wire netting. The
floor Of the box should be well-covered
with fresh soil, and have simply-made
brooder at one end, for the little things
to run under at night. Give the box a
place ia the kitchen, for the chicks can't
get under your feet, nor can rats or cats
disturb them; set box and contents out
in the sun when it shines warmly;
change soil frequently. feed and watch
brood carefully. In this way it will be
not difficult to raise all successfully.
DO not keep too many old hens. Sc
lect reliable sitters and mothers, as
many as are needed for that purpose
Dispose of the rest and keep early
ba,ched spring pullets to lay in fall and
winter.
For keeping broo0ing hens clearly,
invest in good bunch of tobacco leaves
put few leaves under the sitting hens,
and scatter them around the fowl house !;
tie some punches on the sides also, and
there will be no trouble from vermin.-
american AgricuHUist.
IMPROVING SEED WHEAT.-A promi-
nent seed firm in England is reported
10 be making important experiment"
in crossing varieties of wheat. This is
done with view to obtain kinds which
shall be better suited to the particular
conditions of soil and climate of various
sections Of England, than any varieties
now grown. The most experienced
wheat growers of this country have
long been convinced that our varieties
are better than our culture, and that our
farmers need better eparation of the
soil rather than new varieties of wheat.
Every farmer can greatly improve the
variety he is growing, by giving proper
attention to his seed. Let him devote a
patch or part of field to raising seed.
This should have special fertilizing, and
the seed should be in rows far enough
apart to allow of cultivating between
them. Thin the plants in the rows so
rs to give each one abundant room, and
pull out all inferior and badly developed
plants. Before harvesting go through
and remove all that have short End poor
ears. Thrash this wheat by itself, and
in winnowing take pains to blow the
light grains away from the heavier
ones. By following this course for sew
eral years, allowing each plant to do its
part, great Improvement will result
and valuable strain, if not variety,
will be established.
RAISE BETTER characterization has
brought abont many changes in horse
breeding among American farmers, and
no race has set the new style more forci-
bly, or tn larger purpose than the Ameri-
can trotting horse. The American
trotter is horse capable of every SER
vice; there is, in almost literal truth,
no limit TO the speed in which he can
trot one nile, and his capacity of en-
durance, whereof such contests are most
exacting proof, is accepted as fact in
the minds of all observant men, while
his patient temper, and good size, COM
bined with the extraordinary muscular
ity with which true systems of breeding
have endowed him, render him an eX-
ceedingly valuable animal for any w rk
of labor and routine.
The farmer who is looking forward
to Improvement in his stock, must be
careful in making selection of his breed
ing animals, and, herein, it is of the
utmost Importance that the sire chosen
be an available, valuable, and in every
respect choice animal, possessing in
dividually and ancestrally the best quail
ties which the offspring is desired to
possess.
MEDICAL VALUE OF LEMoNs.-"While
you are giving people simple rules for
preserving their health, why don't you
tell them about the use of lemons ?" an
intelligent professional man asked me
. the other day. He went on to say that
he had long been troubled with an in
active liver, which gave him world of
pain and trouble, until recently he was
advised by friend to take a glass Of
hot water, with the juice of half lemon
squeezed into it, but no sugar, night
and morning, and see what the effect
would be. He tried it, and found him.
self better almost Immediately. His
daily headaches, which medicine had
failed to cure, left him; his appetite i'm
proved, and he gained several pounds
in weight within a few weeks. After a
while he omitted the drink, either at
night or in the morning, and now at